I am part of a group in my hometown that plays for our local "Irish folk club". We always have Maureen O'Leary from Toronto down to London to call the dances. She tells us what dance to play for and we play. I got an invite, unseen, to play for a wedding. I just wondered what typically the expectations are at a wedding for a Ceili Band. And when you had a great wedding gig, what elements were there to make this happen. Thanks in advance for your input.
I've been doing quite a lot of weddings... most of the time people just want to have fun... Ceili dances (specially scottish ones) are great for that : quickly explained, fun to dance... and if you do them progressive (with partners changes), it makes the people dance with everybody.
The "special" thing I do, is to start the dance with a waltz just for the newly wed couple, and then start collective dancing. you can also atart with the betrothen, and then each one goes to invite somebody else, and so on...
Last ting, but not least, just be sure they really want Ceili dances... I got a few relatively bad experiences with people asking for rock'n roll, salsa, tangoes... and not happy in a very demonstrative way when I said no...
But it can be really great fun for everybody, and often the food's real good, if you're invited for the dinner...
good luck
I was sure that this would have been a plea for help in advance of next Sunday week's big céilí band competition at the Ennis Trad Festival - see http://www.ennistradfestival.com/bands/07_ceilibandcompetition.html for details - and how to comply with the 60 or so pre-conditions necessary to win the £5,000 first prize. If the wedding goes really well you might consider coming over to Clare to try your luck!
I have played endless wedding gigs (although not Ceili Band/ ITM) but the same principles always apply! They are almost invariably like this:
You have to get to the venue hours and hours earlier than the usual concert/ gig in order to set up and soundcheck or wotteffah long before any guests get there. And often early enough so that once you are sorted the caterers can get in and set up the tables and so forth. (This is a good time to get friendly with the caterers as they control the food and booze!)
Then you have to hang around, bored, until all the guests arrive, have a welcome drink, sit down, eat the wedding breakfast and bore & embarrass each other with “speeches”. Then the caterers move tables around.
Set One starts and you churn out “the first dance” tune. This is always some dreadful old cliché such as Angels by Robbie, Lady In Red, Wonderful Tonight or worse! And the lovely bride and groom (Trojan & Beyonce) do that teary shuffle dance thing.
You carry on and play the rest of Set One. No-one takes any interest. This is for two reasons (i) the bar is now available (ii) the chance to talk to Uncle Stanislaw or Second Cousin Voluptua.
The band takes a break and no-one seems to notice.
Set Two starts and a miracle appears to occur. Everyone enthusiastically gets up and boogies. The intensity of their interest increases. This is due to the booze accumulation.
By the end, the initially disinterested guests are whooping for more. You play Rocking All Over The World or Johnny B Goode or even cornier and pack up, haul it all in to the van and then go home.
Never played at a wedding reception - been to quite a lot though, so this is a guest's point of view.
1. You arn't the star attraction, you're there to make sure the bride, groom and guests have a good time
2. Don't have the sound too loud. People do want to talk to Uncle Thing and Cousin Whatsit - they haven't seen them for years and anyway they don't like dancing.
3. If it's a ceilidh with called dances, keep them simple unless the guests are all experienced dancers. Usually most people there will either not know how to dance, be more or less drunk, or both.
4. Don't let a dance go on too long. Some of us are exhausted, wearing high heels, or drunk. Or all three.
5. Try and enjoy it.
6. Or look as if you are.
7. You are getting paid.
8. Preferably in advance.
As a one-time ceili caller and dance teacher, I used to get invites once or twice a year for this kind of wedding caper along with musician friends. Most of the time it was great fun and enjoyable for everyone and it reflected the interests of the bride and groom. Wedding Parties are usually great dancing affairs anyway so if you get the crowd riled up and excited with what you are doing, you are home free and a good time will be had by all.
Sadly there are some who "think it might be a good idea" with only a minimal understanding of what they are really looking for in wedding entertainment and that is the other end of the spectrum. Imagine spending much of the affair trying to coax people out of their seats and succeeding with only the drunkest of the lot and trying to follow any kind of calling where you end up screaming over the poor band as well.
Wonder why I don't get any more calls anyway......
I'm playing a wedding tomorrow.
Have never been asked to play The Lady in Red, or any other such drivel, the happy couple know what they are getting, us, a Barn Dance/Ceilidh band.
95% of couples, in my experience, don't want to start with a waltz ! Most of them can't waltz, so they like my suggestion of a longways dance with them at the top, leading it, and it gets lots of people on the floor.
Yhaalhouse, you need a dose of Librium, or AlkaSeltzer, you are dyspepsic ! If we are ever asked to set up early, we insist on extra payment for the time and inconvenience.
My pet hate is sharing the gig with a disco.
I wouldn't do a Scottish dance unless asked, as they are not always simple, unles you've had the lessons already, and it polarises the audience into those who know what they're doing and wish you'ld get on with it, and those who need the walkthrough, else they will feel embarrassed and inadequate.
The whole evening goes like a lead balloon as soon as the bride and groom leave. I always check with the best man that it's ok to wind down at this point as it's all falling apart, the grannies are stealing the table decorations, the children are tired and bursting balloons, etc..
I have certainly played weddings where the two families were diametrically different, one lot were up for a party, the others were lumps of wood. Hey, they paid you, you want a good gig as well...?
The ceilidh/barn dance band in which I play does half a dozen or so wedding receptions a year. I also hate sharing with a disco, and usually we won't do it unless, as very occasionally happens, we agree that there are strictly adhered to separate time slots, with us on first so we get an early finish.
I always make sure that the people booking us know what to expect, as very often they are a bit vague and haven't thought it through. Most of our bookings now come from personal recommendation from someone who knows what we do, or from the venue for similar reasons.
In our local neck of the woods we often find we are playing in familiar venues and/or have caterers who we know (and who get gigs for us and vice versa) so ample refreshment will be insured. If not, it is essential to be clear with the punters as part of the booking conditions what they are to provide.
We are always happy to let folks have a free demo CD if they are unsure of what we do, or to let them know if we have any convenient ticketted gigs they might like to get a sample from.
Setting up time isn't usually a problem - often I can set up (half an hour or so) in the room for dancing whilst the meal is being eaten in a separate room. We usually break to eat mid-way through the evening.
We do get odd requests for the couples "first dance", but not always. We tend to start with a few "listening tunes" and work up quickly to more lively stuff and our caller will judge when to start the dancing.
Simple circle dances are often popular to begin with, and/or dances that don't need a partner. We do a mixture of UK dances, plus some Israeli and Eastern European ones which always go do well. Plain waltzes usually prove popular, and give our caller a break too. Our caller tends to be the front man and will often teach and call a couple of dances, then we'll play a tune set or two, then dance some more depending on how the punters seem to be coping! Our caller is great at teaching even complicated dances, and is good at making this part of the fun. He also at the right function does some very silly dances for very drunk guests which involve rolling around on the floor at the end, kicking legs in the air - amazing sights sometimes!
Some occasions go well from the off, some warm up with time, and some, but not many, are just plain hard work.
We always have a predetermined and agreed finish time which we stick too. Oh yes, and a suitably generous fee in cash.
Best gig was our bodhran players wedding where we did the church service, hymns and all, as well as the reception dance. We didn't, of course, charge her!
Hi Rob
I was once asked to call ceili dances at a wedding and my advice would be to really talk to the bride. The first sign of trouble was the men wearing kilts. Then we started late, at which point everyone was well tanked. What the bride had really wanted was contre dancing and we (Ena and co) didn't know the tunes they were really after. Total lack of communication and we were asked to leave early, which we didn't mind because the guests were all boogying at this point. Also, make sure you get paid up front. Good luck.
Heather
Make sure your caller is doing the 12 easiest dances that don't take any explaining - don't let him attempt any new dances or long ones. (Unless you are playing for expert dancers - we often are)
When playing set dances - make sure you stop at the same time as the set containing the people paying you.
Get a (large) deposit out of them first.
You can guarantee that if someone asks for a quickstep or tango and you play it perfectly, the person who asked for it won't dance.
If they ask for a birdie-dance or slosh (aptly named), danny boy, irish rover or anything silly, late at night, tell them you played it earlier.
If anyone wants to get up and sing - encourage them - it will waste 20 minutes.
If they insist on having a disco, make it a rule that the band packs up as soon as the disco starts playing (it might be an earlier night than expected - hurray).
Make sure you know how to finish the evening - old lang syne, flower of scotland, soldiers tale etc. and make sure you start it early enough to finish spot on time - the staff will love you also finish well before time if you are intending to do an encore dance.
Need Ceili Band Advice
Need Ceili Band Advice
I am part of a group in my hometown that plays for our local "Irish folk club". We always have Maureen O'Leary from Toronto down to London to call the dances. She tells us what dance to play for and we play. I got an invite, unseen, to play for a wedding. I just wondered what typically the expectations are at a wedding for a Ceili Band. And when you had a great wedding gig, what elements were there to make this happen. Thanks in advance for your input.
Rob
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by mellow_bellows
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
Look up Discussions 15676, 7785, 11445, 14544
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by oldstrings
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
I've been doing quite a lot of weddings... most of the time people just want to have fun... Ceili dances (specially scottish ones) are great for that : quickly explained, fun to dance... and if you do them progressive (with partners changes), it makes the people dance with everybody.
The "special" thing I do, is to start the dance with a waltz just for the newly wed couple, and then start collective dancing. you can also atart with the betrothen, and then each one goes to invite somebody else, and so on...
Last ting, but not least, just be sure they really want Ceili dances... I got a few relatively bad experiences with people asking for rock'n roll, salsa, tangoes... and not happy in a very demonstrative way when I said no...
But it can be really great fun for everybody, and often the food's real good, if you're invited for the dinner...
good luck
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
Number 1. Please the bride.
Number 2. Please her mother
Number 3. Please her father.
Easy
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
I was sure that this would have been a plea for help in advance of next Sunday week's big céilí band competition at the Ennis Trad Festival - see http://www.ennistradfestival.com/bands/07_ceilibandcompetition.html for details - and how to comply with the 60 or so pre-conditions necessary to win the £5,000 first prize. If the wedding goes really well you might consider coming over to Clare to try your luck!
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by Bannerman
Wedding Gigs
I have played endless wedding gigs (although not Ceili Band/ ITM) but the same principles always apply! They are almost invariably like this:
You have to get to the venue hours and hours earlier than the usual concert/ gig in order to set up and soundcheck or wotteffah long before any guests get there. And often early enough so that once you are sorted the caterers can get in and set up the tables and so forth. (This is a good time to get friendly with the caterers as they control the food and booze!)
Then you have to hang around, bored, until all the guests arrive, have a welcome drink, sit down, eat the wedding breakfast and bore & embarrass each other with “speeches”. Then the caterers move tables around.
Set One starts and you churn out “the first dance” tune. This is always some dreadful old cliché such as Angels by Robbie, Lady In Red, Wonderful Tonight or worse! And the lovely bride and groom (Trojan & Beyonce) do that teary shuffle dance thing.
You carry on and play the rest of Set One. No-one takes any interest. This is for two reasons (i) the bar is now available (ii) the chance to talk to Uncle Stanislaw or Second Cousin Voluptua.
The band takes a break and no-one seems to notice.
Set Two starts and a miracle appears to occur. Everyone enthusiastically gets up and boogies. The intensity of their interest increases. This is due to the booze accumulation.
By the end, the initially disinterested guests are whooping for more. You play Rocking All Over The World or Johnny B Goode or even cornier and pack up, haul it all in to the van and then go home.
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by yhaalhouse
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
Never played at a wedding reception - been to quite a lot though, so this is a guest's point of view.
1. You arn't the star attraction, you're there to make sure the bride, groom and guests have a good time
2. Don't have the sound too loud. People do want to talk to Uncle Thing and Cousin Whatsit - they haven't seen them for years and anyway they don't like dancing.
3. If it's a ceilidh with called dances, keep them simple unless the guests are all experienced dancers. Usually most people there will either not know how to dance, be more or less drunk, or both.
4. Don't let a dance go on too long. Some of us are exhausted, wearing high heels, or drunk. Or all three.
5. Try and enjoy it.
6. Or look as if you are.
7. You are getting paid.
8. Preferably in advance.
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by c.g.
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
As a one-time ceili caller and dance teacher, I used to get invites once or twice a year for this kind of wedding caper along with musician friends. Most of the time it was great fun and enjoyable for everyone and it reflected the interests of the bride and groom. Wedding Parties are usually great dancing affairs anyway so if you get the crowd riled up and excited with what you are doing, you are home free and a good time will be had by all.
Sadly there are some who "think it might be a good idea" with only a minimal understanding of what they are really looking for in wedding entertainment and that is the other end of the spectrum. Imagine spending much of the affair trying to coax people out of their seats and succeeding with only the drunkest of the lot and trying to follow any kind of calling where you end up screaming over the poor band as well.
Wonder why I don't get any more calls anyway......
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by clareman
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
I'm playing a wedding tomorrow.
Have never been asked to play The Lady in Red, or any other such drivel, the happy couple know what they are getting, us, a Barn Dance/Ceilidh band.
95% of couples, in my experience, don't want to start with a waltz ! Most of them can't waltz, so they like my suggestion of a longways dance with them at the top, leading it, and it gets lots of people on the floor.
Yhaalhouse, you need a dose of Librium, or AlkaSeltzer, you are dyspepsic ! If we are ever asked to set up early, we insist on extra payment for the time and inconvenience.
My pet hate is sharing the gig with a disco.
I wouldn't do a Scottish dance unless asked, as they are not always simple, unles you've had the lessons already, and it polarises the audience into those who know what they're doing and wish you'ld get on with it, and those who need the walkthrough, else they will feel embarrassed and inadequate.
The whole evening goes like a lead balloon as soon as the bride and groom leave. I always check with the best man that it's ok to wind down at this point as it's all falling apart, the grannies are stealing the table decorations, the children are tired and bursting balloons, etc..
I have certainly played weddings where the two families were diametrically different, one lot were up for a party, the others were lumps of wood. Hey, they paid you, you want a good gig as well...?
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
The ceilidh/barn dance band in which I play does half a dozen or so wedding receptions a year. I also hate sharing with a disco, and usually we won't do it unless, as very occasionally happens, we agree that there are strictly adhered to separate time slots, with us on first so we get an early finish.
I always make sure that the people booking us know what to expect, as very often they are a bit vague and haven't thought it through. Most of our bookings now come from personal recommendation from someone who knows what we do, or from the venue for similar reasons.
In our local neck of the woods we often find we are playing in familiar venues and/or have caterers who we know (and who get gigs for us and vice versa) so ample refreshment will be insured. If not, it is essential to be clear with the punters as part of the booking conditions what they are to provide.
We are always happy to let folks have a free demo CD if they are unsure of what we do, or to let them know if we have any convenient ticketted gigs they might like to get a sample from.
Setting up time isn't usually a problem - often I can set up (half an hour or so) in the room for dancing whilst the meal is being eaten in a separate room. We usually break to eat mid-way through the evening.
We do get odd requests for the couples "first dance", but not always. We tend to start with a few "listening tunes" and work up quickly to more lively stuff and our caller will judge when to start the dancing.
Simple circle dances are often popular to begin with, and/or dances that don't need a partner. We do a mixture of UK dances, plus some Israeli and Eastern European ones which always go do well. Plain waltzes usually prove popular, and give our caller a break too. Our caller tends to be the front man and will often teach and call a couple of dances, then we'll play a tune set or two, then dance some more depending on how the punters seem to be coping! Our caller is great at teaching even complicated dances, and is good at making this part of the fun. He also at the right function does some very silly dances for very drunk guests which involve rolling around on the floor at the end, kicking legs in the air - amazing sights sometimes!
Some occasions go well from the off, some warm up with time, and some, but not many, are just plain hard work.
We always have a predetermined and agreed finish time which we stick too. Oh yes, and a suitably generous fee in cash.
Best gig was our bodhran players wedding where we did the church service, hymns and all, as well as the reception dance. We didn't, of course, charge her!
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by ocarolan
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
Hi Rob
I was once asked to call ceili dances at a wedding and my advice would be to really talk to the bride. The first sign of trouble was the men wearing kilts. Then we started late, at which point everyone was well tanked. What the bride had really wanted was contre dancing and we (Ena and co) didn't know the tunes they were really after. Total lack of communication and we were asked to leave early, which we didn't mind because the guests were all boogying at this point. Also, make sure you get paid up front. Good luck.
Heather
# Posted on November 3rd 2007 by boxielady
Re: Need Ceili Band Advice
Make sure your caller is doing the 12 easiest dances that don't take any explaining - don't let him attempt any new dances or long ones. (Unless you are playing for expert dancers - we often are)
When playing set dances - make sure you stop at the same time as the set containing the people paying you.
Get a (large) deposit out of them first.
You can guarantee that if someone asks for a quickstep or tango and you play it perfectly, the person who asked for it won't dance.
If they ask for a birdie-dance or slosh (aptly named), danny boy, irish rover or anything silly, late at night, tell them you played it earlier.
If anyone wants to get up and sing - encourage them - it will waste 20 minutes.
If they insist on having a disco, make it a rule that the band packs up as soon as the disco starts playing (it might be an earlier night than expected - hurray).
Make sure you know how to finish the evening - old lang syne, flower of scotland, soldiers tale etc. and make sure you start it early enough to finish spot on time - the staff will love you also finish well before time if you are intending to do an encore dance.
# Posted on November 3rd 2007 by geoffwright